Walkabout around Bagan @ Myanmar Day 4

Our itinerary for our third and last day in Bagan was – have a look at the market place then walk to the jetty and take a ferry. Have lunch and then catch the 3:30pm bus to Mandalay.

After breakfast, we started our walk around Bagan, our two navigator Chunny and W.Hoong checking out the maps to make sure that we were on the right path

Interesting window decoration

A grocery stall selling various goods : from onions to cigarettes, various sauces, dried food and of course the betel leaves

These two helpers were counting the betel leaves and stacking them into the baskets

A tea stall equivalent to our mamak stall

We arrived at the market and after a brief discussion, we agree to go our own ways to explore the market and meet back at the starting point in 30 minutes time. I walked with AhPhenggg..saw some clothing stuff, lacquer wares, groceries, then eh..saw something that caught my fancy – a wind chime..and then…a wood carving, and then lacquer wares..and we were later joined by Chunny..and we ended up at the stall for close to 1 hour…

After happily parting with our Kyats…we guiltily walked back to the starting point ( 30 minutes late) and err..thought of excuses for being late. We waited for a few minutes and couldn’t see W.H, after a few minutes WH joined us, excitedly telling us about the fish market and also offered us some kuihs that he brought at the stalls..and err..the only thing we saw was the souvenir shop..

We continued our journey to the ferry station…and on the way, we saw a barrel over an open fire, seeing our kaypor faces, one of the guys took a long stick and lifted the contents..ah..they were boiling tar

We walked past the fire station

The local public transport..that ‘tyre’ seat looked rather comfy

Road making in progress..oh..so this was what the tar was for…this was very manual work…the ladies transport and spread the stones, then the steamroller run over that a few times to compact the surface

Peanuts being dried in front of a grocery shop

A clinic

Petrol kiosk , Ron 97 ? Ron 95 ?

Plastic bags free area…and Teapot condense milk

More interesting road signs ..the one on the left is about electrical safety , the others looked like religious related road sign

A more modern grocery shop with the banners of familiar names : Lux, Pepsi, Colgate, Palmolive …

An interesting looking house..

Another beautiful looking house..

While our cameras were busily clicking away , the owner of the house came out to the gate ..OHH…is he going to chase us off ? But he was smiling and invited us into the compound of his house..and let us take photos around the house..in the picture below is the open kitchen area and the kitchen

Mr Saw spoke good English..and we started to chitchat with him, and we were then introduced to his mother, his sister, wife and son….and then chairs were brought out and tea was served …then we were offered palm sugar and crispy peanuts in batter .. Here we were, 4 strangers from another country ..a bunch of kaypors…and Mr Saw and his family welcomed us into his house and extend his kindness to us..and answered our unending questions patiently..

Grandmother and grandson…WH asked Mr Saw for the name of the kuih that he brought at the marketplace earlier and the next moment we know, Mr Saw started to talk to his sister and then he asked us when are we leaving Bagan, then Mr Saw said that his sister will go now to buy the kuih and drop them at the guesthouse later while we go on our walkabout. We declined the kind offer , and Mr Saw said that it was no trouble, there is a stall that makes this very well, and being local, they can buy it cheaply… Woooww….can you believe the kindness and hospitality of this family ?

We were deeply touched and yes, I believe that there is kindness in this world, there is good in this world………someone please pass me a tissue..